Don’t rule out three rear cameras on your iPhone next year

You can never have too many cameras, so the iPhone in 2019 might ship with a triple-camera setup on the back.

Apple is working to put three rear cameras on next year’s model, according to the Taipei Times. Jeff Pu, an analyst with Yuanta Securities, says the company is already putting in orders for the necessary components. Since the layout is even more complex than a dual-camera setup, Apple wants to get a jump on development.

The belief is that Apple wants a third lens for advanced optical zoom. Previous models have shipped with 2x optical zoom, meaning 3x optical zoom is what the company is eyeing. Users would be able to zoom in further without having their shots blurred dramatically.

Huawei, however, has already released a mainstream product with three cameras on the back. The P20 Pro launched earlier this year with a 40MP RGB lens, a 20MP monochrome lens, and an 8MP telephoto lens. Together, you get impressive shots in pretty much any environment.

By the time an iPhone rolls out with a triple-camera setup, there will probably be many more competitors with the same technology.